The Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary located in St. Paul, MN is a very diverse piece of land I love to shoot at. There are so many different beautiful backdrops that will compliment any photoshoot you are planning. It's definitely my go-to spot.

Located on north shore of the Mississippi River.

This sanctuary is surrounded by highways and railroad tracks right along the Mississippi River; however, there is no access to river from this park.

Restoration.

This once was the site of the North Star Brewery in the 1800's and then an industrial and railway yard which was abandoned in the 1970's. Now, there is an ongoing project to restore this once polluted area into a beautiful park for people, and animals, to enjoy.

What's here now?

This 29 acre sanctuary has long prairie grass fields, ponds and tree-lined walkways. And I can't forget to mention the soft sandstone bluffs on the northern edge of the park. This place is very popular for hiking, birdwatching and photography.

An underestimated and lesser known noodle dish in the Asian community. It's known origin is from Laos, and has now spread all across Asia and the United States. There are many different variations of this dish online; some made with coconut milk, some without. The ingredients can easily be found at your local Asian grocery store, and it's an easy recipe to follow.

A real comfort food.

Growing up, this has been my favorite over Pho. My step-mother makes it for me when I go home for a visit, but I've come to master my own version of this dish. You can add quail eggs, straw mushrooms, and different herbs for toppings. I like to keep mine simple with chicken and bamboo, and top it off with cilantro and green onions. Make it however you like, it'll taste great!

Food has been the center of conversations and has always brought people from all over the world together. It helps find common grounds for strangers to bound over and continues to be the highlight of every social event. I hope you try this dish and love it as much as Dave and I do (he loves my Khao Poon), and share it with your friends.